Man jailed for 25 weeks after breaching Criminal Behaviour Order in Stroud

A man has been jailed for 25 weeks for breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in Stroud.

Ian Kingston, aged 37 and of no fixed abode, was previously handed a CBO in November 2023 which prohibited him from entering the Stroud district, begging or engaging in conduct which could cause alarm, harassment or distress within the area.

On Wednesday 13 November, Kingston was arrested after officers spotted him begging outside a supermarket in Stroud.

Appearing at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court the following day, Kingston pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order, two counts of interference with a motor vehicle and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.

He was sentenced to 25 weeks in prison.

Stroud Neighbourhood Policing Inspector James Hutchins said: "Kingston was handed a CBO to keep the wider public safe from his actions and limit his ability to cause them further distress.

"However he has shown a complete disregard for his CBO by brazenly breaching it multiple times.

"Our officers acted quickly to apprehend him and I welcome Kingston's sentence.

"We hope this reassures people that we will continue to take action to enforce CBOs that have been granted by the courts."